Failure Features

In the last installment of our series on failure, Jackie Zimmerman thought she had overcome her chronic illness and started the nonprofit of her dreams. But she only really got healthy after stepping down as executive director.

W. David Tarver thought he had invented a new and improved synthesizer beloved by Stevie Wonder. But neither of those things were true. In this personal essay, he talks about coming to grips with a failed invention he spent years perfecting.